Apparatus for applying code markings of different colors onto articles of indefinite length



n 27. 1 1 T. c. FITZGERALD EIAL 2,989,943

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING CODE MARKING-S OF DIFFERENT COLORS ONTO ARTICLES 0F INDEFINITE LENGTH Filed Aug. 28, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 7: C. FITZGERALD ATTORA/E June 27, 1961 T. c. FITZGERALD EIAL 2,989,943

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING CODE MARKING-S OF DIFFERENT COLORS ONTO ARTICLES OF INDEFINITE LENGTH 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Auz. 28, 1959 ,5 770 IPA/5 June 1 T. c. FITZGERALD ETAL 2,989,943

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING CODE MARKINGS OF DIFFERENT COLORS ONTO ARTICLES OF INDEFINITE LENGTH Filed A112. 28, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVE/VTURS I76. firzssmazo W.L Hon" 8) 6&4. A 7'TORA/5Y a W WJ DDII g M :W w W United States Patent APPARATUS FOR APPLYING CODE MARKINGS OF DIFFERENT COLORS ONTO ARTICLES OF INDEFINITE LENGTH Thomas C. Fitzgerald, Chicago, and Wilbur L. Holt, Downers Grove, 11]., amignors to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York Filed Aug. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 836,795 7 Claims. (Cl. 118314) This invention relates to apparatus for applying code marking of different colors to articles of indefinite length and is an improvement of the apparatus disclosed in Patent No. 2,865,323 to W. L. Hoff on Color Coding Apparatus.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for applying code markings of different colors to articles of indefinite length.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus for applying color code markings on strands and having means for adjusting the longitudinal positions of the colored markings relative to one another.

With these and other objects, the invention contemplates the provision of a first pair of hollow wheels mounted on opposite sides of a strand advancing longitudinally along a predetermined path, a second pair of hollow wheels mounted on opposite sides of the strand in longitudinally spaced relation to the first pair, and means for driving the hollow wheels in timed relation to each other. Each of the wheels is provided with a peripheral row of spaced radially directed apertures and colored fluid or ink is supplied to the hollow wheels and forced outwardly through the apertures in the form of streams as the wheels rotate.

Streams of ink from one Wheel of the first pair engage the advancing strand and apply markings of a first color onto one side thereof at regular intervals and a first color onto one side thereof at regular intervals and the second wheel of the first pair disposed in longitudinally offset relation to the first wheel applies markings of the same color to the opposite sides of the strand in registration with the first markings to form annular bands of the first color on the strand at regularly spaced intervals. Streams of ink of a second color issuing from one wheel of the second pair apply markings onto one side of the strand between the bands of the first color thereon and the streams of ink of the second color from the other wheels of the second pair apply markings onto the other side of the strand to form annular bands of the second color on the strand intermediate the bands of the first color.

Mechanism is provided for adjusting the angular position of one set of wheels relative to the other set of wheels to adjust the longitudinal position of the bands of one color on the strand relative to the bands of the other color.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description thereof and the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the apparatus for applying color-coding marks onto strands;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic view of a strand showing the coding bands or marks of difiere'nt colors being applied thereto;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus with portions shown in section;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of one of the hollow ink-dispensing applying wheels;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

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FIG. 6 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 3 and showing the main drive shaft for the two sets of ink-dispensing wheels and the means for adjusting one set relative to the other;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view of the drive shaft for driving one pair of ink-dispensing wheels;

FIG. 8 is a detailed view of the drive sleeve on the drive shaft for driving the other pair of ink-dispensing wheels;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic view of the drive for the apparatus.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the apparatus for applying annular bands or markings 15 and 16 of different colors to a strand 17 in the form of an insulated conductor 1-8 comprises a first pair of hollow wheels 29 and 21 disposed on opposite sides of the path of longitudinal movement of the strand 17 and in longitudinally off-set relation to each other for applying the colored markings 15 to the conductor, and a second pair of hollow wheels 22 and 23 disposed on opposite sides of the strand 17 and in longitudinally off-set relation to each other for applying the annular markings 16 to the strand intermediate the colored markings 15.

The hollow wheels 20-23, each of which has a peripheral row of uniformly spaced radially directed'relatively small apertures 28, are mounted on hollow shafts 30 which are supported in pairs of bearing blocks 32 on a horizontal frame plate 34. The ends of the shafts 30 are rotatably sealed in fittings 36 (FIG. 3) mounted on the plate 34 and communicate through passageways 37 therein with pipe lines 38 which are connected to a pair of tanks 40 for holding colored inks or other colored liquids therein for making the code markings 15 and 16. Pumps 42 in the pipe lines 38 are driven by a motor 44 to withdraw the colored inks from the supply tanks 40 and force them into the hollow wheels under control of manually settable valves 46 in the pipe lines.

The wheels 20-23 are rotated about their axes in timed relation to the advancing movement of the strand 17 and the colored inks therein issue from the apertures 28 in the form of radially directed streams which are angularly spaced apart from one another and are intercepted by the strand 17 and form the markings 15 and 16 thereon at uniform intervals. As shown particularly in FIG. 2, the wheel 20 applies a series of substantially semicircular markings 15 thereon on one side of the strand and the wheel 21 applies a series of substantially semicircular markings of the same color on the opposite side of the strand in registration with the first markings to form the annular bands or markings 15 of one color. In like manner, the wheels 22 and 23 each apply substantially semicircular markings of a second color to the strand to form the bands 16 of the second color on the strands intermediate the bands 15 thereon.

Housings 50 mounted on the framework of the apparatus enclose the pairs of hollow ink-dispensing wheels 20, 21 and 22, 23 and trap the excess ink therefrom which is returned to the tanks 40 through drain pipes 52 extending from the lowermost portion of the housings 59. Suitable guide apertures in the housings 50 provide clearance for the movement of the strand 17 therethrough.

The drive mechanism for rotating the pairs of inkdispensing wheels includes a cog pulley 55 fixedly mounted on each of the hollow shafts 30 and engaging a cog belt 56 which is driven by a drive cog pulley 57 and also engages an adjusting pulley 58 and a tension pulley 59 (Fig. 5). The tension pulleys 59 are spring actuated to maintain the cog belts taut about the various pulleys. The adjustable cog pulleys 58 are adapted to be vertically adjusted by adjusting devices 62 to permit the angular adjustment of the cog pulleys 55 and the inkdispensing wheels associated therewith relative to each other so that the semiannular markings from the inkdispe'nsing wheels of each pair of wheels may be brought into registry with each other longitudinally of the strand to form the annular bands 15 and 16.

' The drive pulley 57 associated'with the ink-dispensing wheels 22 and 23 is fixedly mounted on a drive shaft 65 (Figs. 3 and 6) and the drive pulley 57 associated with the ink-dispensing wheels 20 and 21 is fixedly mounted on a driving sleeve 66 which is oscillatably mounted on the drive shaft 65. The drive shaft 65 and the drive sleeve 66 are rotatably supported in bearings 69 and 70, respectively, in vertical frame members 71 and 72 extending downwardly from the horizontal frame plate 34 into engagement with a base 74. The drive sleeve 66 is adjustably locked to the drive shaft 65 by a'key 75 and the drive shaft 65 and the drive sleeve 66 are driven through a pulley and belt coupling 76 by a motor 77 mounted on the base 74. A capstan 78 (FIG. 10) for advancing the strand 17 may also be driven by the motor 77. I

Mechanism is provided for adjusting the angular position of the drive sleeve 66 relative to the drive shaft 65 which adjusting mechanism includes the key 75. As shown particularly in FIGS. 3 and 6-9, the key 75 passes through a straight slot 79 in the drive shaft 65 (FIG. 7) and through obliquely or helically disposed slots 80, 80 in the driving sleeve 66 (FIG. 8), and the ends of the key fit in recesses 81 (FIGS. 3 and 6) in the enlarged end 82 of a shifting sleeve 83 and are secured thereto by rivets 84. The shifting sleeve 83 is slidably mounted on the shaft 65 and is manually adjustable to effect the movement of the key longitudinally in the slots 79 and 80 of the shaft and the drive sleeve for effecting relative oscillation between the shaft 65 and the sleeve 66. A shifting yoke 86 is rotatably mounted on the shifting sleeve 83 and is held thereon against the head 82 by a lock nut 87. A depending arm 88 (FIG. 9) of the shifting yoke is pivotally connected to a rod 90 which, as shown in FIG. 3, has a threaded bore 91 in one end thereof for receiving a threaded end of an adjusting rod 92.

The adjusting rod 92 is rotatably supported in a bearing aperture in a vertical stationary frame plate 93 and is locked against axial movement by a pair of collars 94 pinned to the adjusting rod 92 on opposite sides of the frame plate 93. A spiral gear 96 fixed to the adjusting rod 92 meshes with a spiral gear 97 fixed to a shaft 98 which is rotatably supported in suitable bearings 99 (FIG. on the frame plate 93 and has a handle 100 by means of which it may be manually rotated to impart rotation to the adjusting rod 92 and effect the longitudinal movement of the rod 98, the shifting yoke 86 and the key 77.

The movement of the key 75 longitudinally of the drive shaft 65 and the drive sleeve 66 effects relative angular movement between the drive shaft 65 and the drive sleeve 66 and between the pairs of ink-dispensing wheels 20, 21 and 22, 23 and this in turn will effect a change in the angular position of the streams of ink of one pair of ink-dispensing wheels relative to the streams of ink of the other pair of ink-dispensing Wheels and in the position of the colored markings 16 relative to the colored markings 15. Thus, by turning the handle 100, the position of the markings 16 of one color may be changed to any desired location between the markings ,re'adilydevised by those skilled in the art which will embody the, principles of the inventionand fall within the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

I. An apparatus for applying code markings of different colors onto strands which comprises means for longitudinally advancing the strand along a predetermined path, a first pair of hollow Wheels mounted on opposite sides of said strand and in longitudinally offset relation to each other for applying first markings of one color at spaced points along said strand, a second pair of hollow wheels on opposite sides of the strand and in longitudinally offset relation to each other and in longitudinally spaced relation to said first pair of wheels for applying second markings of a different color on said strand between said first markings, each of said wheels having a peripheral row of orifices for directing angularly spaced streams of colored marking liquid therefrom, means for supplying liquid of one color to said first pair of wheels and liquid of a second color to said second pair of wheels, means for simultaneously rotating said first pair andv said second pair of wheels, and means for varying the angular position of one pair of wheels relative to the other pair of wheels.

2. In an apparatus for applying code markings of different colors onto a longitudinally advancing strand, a first hollow wheel, a second hollow wheel, each of said wheels having a peripheral row of uniformly spaced apertures therein for the passage of angularly spaced streams of colored ink therethrough, mounting means for supporting the wheels adjacent to and on the same side of the strand and in longitudinally spaced relation to each other, means for supplying ink of different colors respectively to said wheels, a drive shaft, means connected to said drive shaft for rotating one of said wheels, a drive sleeve telescopingly mounted on said drive shaft, means connected to said drive sleeve for rotating the other wheel, adjustable means interconnecting said shaft and said sleeve for changing the angular relationship between said shaft and said sleeve and for locking said shaft and said sleeve in adjusted positions, drive means for rotating said shaft and said drive sleeve in timed relation to the longitudinal movement of said strand, and means for adjusting said adjustable means while said wheels are rotating.

3. In an apparatus for applying code markings of different colors onto strands, means for longitudinally advancing a strand along a predetermined path, a first pair of hollow marking Wheels each having a peripheral row of spaced apertures for the passage of streams of marking liquid of one color therethrough, a second pair of hollow marking Wheels each having a peripheral row of spaced orifices therein for the passage of marking liquid of a second color therethrough, mounting means for supporting the first pair of marking wheels on opposite sides of the strand and for supporting the second pair of marking wheels on opposite sides of the strands and in longitudinally spaced relation to said first pair, means for supplying marking liquid of one color to said first pair of marking Wheels and for supplying marking liquid of a second color to said second pair of marking wheels, a drive shaft, a drive sleeve on said drive shaft, means driven from said drive shaft for rotating said one pair of marking wheels, means driven from said drive sleeve for rotating said second pair of marking wheels, means for adjusting the angular position of said sleeve on said drive shaft and for locking said sleeve in angularly adjusted position on said shaft for rotation therewith, and means for rotating said drive shaft in timed relation to the longitudinal movement of said strand. i

4. In an apparatus for applying code markings of dif ferent colors onto a longitudinally advancing insulated Wire, a first pair of hollow Wheels, a second pair of hollow wheels, each of said wheels having a peripheral row of uniformly spaced apertures therein for the passage of streams of colored ink therethrough, mounting means for supporting the first pair of wheels on opposite sides of the insulated wire and in longitudinally off-set relation to each other and for supporting a second pair of wheels on opposite sides of the insulated wire in longitudinally off-set relation to each other and in longitudinally spaced relation to said first pair of wheels, means for supplying ink of different colors respectively to said pairs of wheels, a drive shaft having a slot therethrough, a drive sleeve having slots therethrough, means for rotatably supporting said shaft and said drive sleeve in telescoping relation to each other, means connected to said shaft for rotating one pair of said wheels, means connected to said sleeve for rotating the other pair of said wheels, a key extending through the slots in said drive shaft and said drive sleeve, the slots in said shaft and said sleeve being in diverging relation to one another for imparting relative oscillatory movement between the shaft and the sleeve in response to movement of the key in an axial direction, means for shifting the key longitudinally of the shaft to vary the spacing of the code markings of one color relative to the code markings of the other color, and means for rotating said shaft in timed relation to the longitudinal movement of said strand.

5. An apparatus for applying code markings of different colors onto elongated articles which comprises a first pair of hollow wheels mounted on opposite sides of such an elongated article and in longitudinally offset relation to each other for applying first markings of one color at spaced points along the article, a second pair of hollow wheels on opposite sides of the article and in longitudinally ofiset relation to each other and in longitudinally spaced relation to said first pair of wheels for applying second markings of a difierent color on the article between said first markings, each of said wheels having a peripheral row of orifices for directing angularly spaced streams of colored marking liquid therefrom, means for supplying liquid of one color to said first pair of wheels and liquid of a second color to said second pair of wheels, means for simultaneously rotating said pairs of wheels, means for varying the angular position of one pair of wheels relative to the other pair of wheels, and means for efiecting relative movement between the elongated article and said wheels in a direction longitudinally of said elongated article.

6. An apparatus for applying code markings of difierent colors onto elongated articles which comprises, means for longitudinally advancing an elongated article along a predetermined path, a first hollow wheel for applying first markings of one color at spaced points onto one side of said elongated article, a second hollow wheel for applying second markings of a difierent color onto said one side of the elongated article between said first markings, means for rotatably supporting said wheels on one side of the path of the elongated article in longitudinally spaced relation to one another, each of said wheels having a peripheral row of orifices for directing angularly spaced streams of colored liquid therefrom, means for supplying liquid of one color to said first wheel and liquid of another color to said second wheel, means for simultaneously rotating said first and said second wheels, and means for varying the angular position of said wheels relative to one another.

7. An apparatus for applying code markings of different colors onto elongated articles which comprises, means for longitudinally advancing an elongated article along a predetermined path, a first hollow wheel for applying first markings of one color at spaced points onto one side of said elongated article, a second hollow wheel for applying second markings of a difierent color onto said one side of the elongated article between said first markings, means for rotatably supporting said wheels on one side of the path of the elongated article in longitudinally spaced relation to one another, each of said wheels having a peripheral row of orifices for directing angularly spaced streams of colored liquid therefrom, means for supplying liquid of one color to said first wheel and liquid of another color to said second wheel, a rotatable drive member, an element mounted on said drive member for rotation therewith and for angular adjustment relative thereto, means for interconnecting said drive member and one of said wheels for simultaneous rotation, means for interconnecting said element and said other wheel for simultaneous rotation, means for rotating said drive member to impart rotation to said wheels, and means for adjusting the angular position of said element relative to said drive member to effect a change in the position of the markings of one color relative to the markings of the other color on the elongated article.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,610,607 Isenberg Sept. 16, 1952 2,687,109 Krukonis Aug. 24, 1954 2,865,323 Hoff Dec. 23, 1958 Patent No. 2,989,943 June 27, 1961 Thomas C. .Fitzgerald et al.

that error appears in the above numbered pat- It is hereby certified Patent should read as ent requiring correction and that the said Letters corrected below,

Column 1, line l2 for "marking" read markings lines 37 and 38, strike out "a first color onto one side thereof at regular intervals and".

signed and sealed this 21st day of November 1961,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer DAVID L. LADD Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 

